Where to buy face masks

The best face masks to wear are made of two layers of breathable material that fits your face snugly, either cloth or disposable. N95s, favored by healthcare professionals and essential workers, are, of course, also an option. But designers have been in the fabric-mask game for a long time.

Fendi, Palm Angels, and Marine Serre have all made masks. And, at the start of , Christian Siriano turned his business into a mask-making machine for hospitals. Nonmedical-grade disposable face masks look like surgical masks but are not regulated by the FDA, as they are not intended for use in medical settings, Kenkare said.

They typically come in two- or three-layer builds and are recommended for the general public over medical-grade face masks, according to multiple experts. We don't test masks ourselves, so we depend on expert guidance and our previous reporting about how to shop for masks.

The CDC recommends masks with multiple layers and adjustable nose wires, and experts told us to ensure the masks shoppers buy can be made to fit tightly against the face.

The following face masks — some of which appear in our previous coverage — list features that align with our research and have all been highly rated.

The masks have an adjustable nose bridge and ear loops. The masks come in multiple colors like Mushroom nude , Fern dark green and Cobalt blue. Masks come in compostable packaging. These face masks come in Black, Blue and White. You can purchase them in packs of 50 to 1, The masks come in a pack of 10 and are available in colors like Midnight black and Tuscany pearlescent pink , as well as variety packs and multiple patterns.

These face masks are constructed from three layers of nonwoven fabric and have an adjustable nose bridge and elastic ear loops. You can purchase them in sets of 50 or , as well as colors from Black to Pink. You can purchase packs of 50 masks in colors and prints like Black , Red and Jaguar. The masks are available in Blue and Black, and you can order as few as 10 masks to over 1, Masks come individually wrapped.

Beyond medical- and nonmedical-grade face masks, there are respirators, the best known of which include N95s and KN95s. Respirators are manufactured according to country-specific standards and are regulated by country-specific governing bodies.

In other words, those oft-forwarded social-media claims that masks are useless against coronaviruses are completely false. Other N ratings include N99 and N, though the N95 is the only one most people need to think about for Covid protection.

The FDA approved several KN95 models for temporary use by health care workers early in the pandemic but withdrew that emergency authorization in July , when U.

You can read more about respirators and who should wear them in our guide to KN95 masks. Like reusable cloth face masks, disposable face masks protect those around the wearer by blocking virus particles from entering the air, thus decreasing the chance that someone infected with Covid will spread the virus, explained Carl Fichtenbaum , MD, a professor of clinical medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

To some extent, they also help shield what the wearer breathes in. And the masks can prevent wearers from touching a contaminated surface and then touching their eyes, mouth or nose, said Woody. The masks come in seven colors and feature a filter pocket and adjustable ear loops. With an added filter in place, they pass the light test. Some of the color options are sold out, so you may want to hurry up and grab one. Like most surgical masks, this fabric mask has a middle filter layer made of liquid-repellent non-woven polypropylene, making it much harder for droplets to escape or enter.

It has easy-to-adjust ear straps that work by simply pulling down on the little loops. And the company donates 10 percent of every purchase to development projects for disadvantaged children and families all over the world. What we think: Like many people, Strategist writer Louis Cheslaw bought a lot of different masks early on in the pandemic, but this is the only one he has bought twice. The Air Mask is one of the few fabric masks we have seen that has undergone independent testing by a leading third-party laboratory to ensure proper filtration.

Getting the right size is key: You want the contoured shape to hug you under the chin and the ear loops to be tight enough to keep the mask snug against your cheeks.

They feature an interior lining and soft ear loops. Each mask is one-of-a-kind, so they will differ in color and pattern. It also feels a little hot if the temperature is over 70 degrees. It very nearly passes the light test and is one of the nicest looking masks of the bunch. Sasha Koehn and Erik Allen Ford, co-founders of Buck Mason, make masks using three layers of the heavyweight cotton they usually use to make T-shirts.

They also pass the light test thanks to three layers of fabric. Strategist writer Lauren Ro loves how cozy and breathable they are. She also likes that they have ear loops and a tie, which makes them easy to keep on and also hang from your neck if you need to take the mask off for a moment.

What we think: Strategist senior editor Anthony Rotunno has tried both and says that the M2 has all the cottony softness of the M1, but is far more secure thanks to tiny, grippy tubes made of silicone on the straps. This set of three-layer masks comes in a variety of sizes to help you get your best fit. They are moisture resistant on the outside and soft on the inside, with a nanofiber middle layer for better filtration. What we think: Strategist writer Emma Wartzman bought these masks on a whim back in May and ended up loving them.

Sustainable clothing brand Christy Dawn is using their striped, floral, and solid dead-stock cotton to make two-ply face masks. They are soft and easier to breathe through than most making them a good choice for hot summer days. What we think: We found these masks comfortable and well-fitting. The darker colors seem to do a better job passing the light test. According to Strategist writer Dominique Pariso and Strategist junior writer Jenna Milliner-Waddell, they are hotter than a regular surgical mask but not as hot as a bandana.

Milliner-Waddlell says they are very breathable and that she wore hers on a six-mile walk with no issues. Christine Alcalay continues to donate to healthcare professionals and organizations working toward equity and social justice. What we think: The two layers of cotton feel lightweight and breathable, which probably accounts for why some light shines through when you hold it up to a window or lamp.

The small worked well for my oval-shaped face but was too small for a broader-faced man with a lower nose bridge. And it stays put for extended periods of time even while talking, so you never have to touch it or your face to readjust. Made from two layers of percent cotton poplin, this mask from Aritzia is contoured to fit the face better and features adjustable ear loops.

She loves that it comes in lots of colors but prefers it in brown since it camouflages whatever makeup eventually rubs off on the mask. Made by hand in Brooklyn, these double-layer masks are made using cotton bandanas and an antimicrobial fabric lining. Choose from pink, beige, blue, or black and with or without a pocket to add a filter.

What we think: We have tried both the pleated and non-pleated versions of the Ki Collection bandana masks.

Both have a bendable metal nose strip that creates a tight seal and holds the mask in place. The pleated mask is more malleable the non-pleated one is actually made with three layers of fabric to accommodate a filter and soft, which makes it mold to your face better and keeps it from shifting when you talk. Both pass the light test and are among the nicest looking of the bunch.

The outer layer is made of either a cotton-silk or cotton-elastane blend, and the inner layer is percent cotton. Masks feature elastic ear loops and a nose clip for a tighter fit to your face. What we think: These vibrant pleated masks expand to cover your whole face, from under your chin to the bridge of your nose — or even over the bridge if you prefer.

They are soft and breathable, and the metal nose strip keeps them in place even after hours of wear. Although we did notice slight gaps over our cheeks, that could be fixed by tying knots in the ear elastics. The brand now offers an update to their original masks, featuring three layers of cotton, adjustable ear loops, a nose strip, and a contoured fit. They are puckered at the top and bottom for a tighter fit. What we think: These were among the first masks Strategist writer Ambar Padilla bought at the beginning of the pandemic because she thought they looked nicer than a lot of what was available.

Detroit-based clothing label Diop is making face masks inspired by mud cloth from Mali.